School Crossing Patrols Act

(CHAPTER 285)

(Original Enactment: Ordinance 17 of 1955)

REVISED EDITION 2013

(31st August 2013)

An Act for the authorisation of measures for the control of traffic, at places where children cross roads on their way to or from school, by persons other than police officers.

[16th September 1955]

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the School Crossing Patrols Act.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Police;

“prescribed sign” means a sign of a size, colour and type prescribed by rules made by the Minister which may provide for the attachment of reflectors thereto or for the illumination thereof, and, if the Minister authorises the use of signs of a description not so prescribed, includes a sign of that description;

“road” means any public road and any other road to which the public has access, and includes —

(a)	any road within Pulau Bukom;
(b)	any road within the limits of any installation of the Singapore Armed Forces declared by the Minister by notification in the Gazette to be an installation to which this Act applies; and
(c)	any bridge over which a road passes;

“school” includes a children’s social centre run by the Government;

“school crossing patrol” means a person appointed to patrol in accordance with arrangements under section 3;

“vehicle” means any vehicle whether mechanically propelled or otherwise.

[25/2012]

Arrangements for patrolling school crossings

3.—(1) Subject to such specific or general directions as may be given by the Minister from time to time, arrangements may be made by the Commissioner of Police for the patrolling of places where children cross roads on their way to or from school, during periods between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. when children are so on their way, by persons appointed by or on behalf of the Commissioner, other than police officers.

(2) The functions of the Commissioner for the purpose of making arrangements under subsection (1) shall include the duty to satisfy himself of the adequate qualifications of persons appointed to patrol, and to provide requisite training of persons to be appointed.

Power of school crossing patrols to stop traffic

4.—(1) When between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. a vehicle is approaching a place in a road where children on their way to or from school are crossing or seeking to cross the road, a school crossing patrol shall, subject to subsection (4), have power, by exhibiting a prescribed sign, to require the person driving or propelling the vehicle to stop it.

(2) When a person has been required under subsection (1) to stop a vehicle —

(a)	he shall cause the vehicle to stop before reaching the place where the children are crossing or seeking to cross so as not to stop or impede their crossing; and
(b)	the vehicle shall not be put in motion again so as to reach the place in question so long as the sign continues to be exhibited.

(3) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (2)(a), or who causes a vehicle to be put in motion in contravention of subsection (2)(b), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction in the case of a first offence to a fine not exceeding $200 and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months.

(4) The power conferred on a school crossing patrol by subsection (1) shall be exercisable only if the patrol is wearing a uniform conforming to a type prescribed by the Minister.

(5) The power conferred by section 42(1) of the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276) on a court before which a person is convicted of any criminal offence in connection with the driving of a motor vehicle to order him to be disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence to drive a motor vehicle shall not be exercisable by virtue of the conviction of a person of an offence under subsection (3) if it is his first or second conviction of an offence thereunder.

(6) For the purposes of this section —

(a)	when it is proved that a sign was exhibited by a school crossing patrol, it shall be presumed to have been of a size, colour and type prescribed, or of a description authorised, as aforesaid, and if it was exhibited in circumstances in which it was required by the rules to be illuminated, to have been illuminated in the prescribed manner, unless the contrary is proved; and
(b)	where it is proved that a school crossing patrol was wearing uniform, the uniform shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been a uniform conforming to a type prescribed by the Minister.

Rules

5. The Minister may make rules to prescribe anything which under this Act may be prescribed and generally for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

Search within Legislation